21 July 2014

AP PHOTOS: As Ramadan fast ends, the feasts begin

This Sunday, July 6, 2014 photo, shows an Iraqi family waiting to break their fast during the hold month of Ramadan in Basra, Iraq. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This Sunday, July 6, 2014 photo, shows an Iraqi family waiting to break their fast during the hold month of Ramadan in Basra, Iraq. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, shows Chinese Muslim women posing for a photograph before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan at Niujie Mosque in Beijing, China. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, shows Chinese Muslim women posing for a photograph before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan at Niujie Mosque in Beijing, China. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, shows a Syrian refugee family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan, next to the Temporary Centre for Immigrants in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, Spain. The family is from Aleppo, Syria, and they arrived to Melilla about four months ago. They fled war crossing through Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco before arriving to Spain. They are currently waiting for the Spanish authorities to allow them to travel to Europe.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, shows a Syrian refugee family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan, next to the Temporary Centre for Immigrants in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, Spain. The family is from Aleppo, Syria, and they arrived to Melilla about four months ago. They fled war crossing through Turkey, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco before arriving to Spain. They are currently waiting for the Spanish authorities to allow them to travel to Europe.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, July 7, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan at their home in Kabul, Afghanistan. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, July 7, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan at their home in Kabul, Afghanistan. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, one Istanbul's landmarks is seen at background. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Istanbul, Turkey. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, one Istanbul's landmarks is seen at background. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Thursday, July 3, 2014, shows an Iranian Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Tehran, Iran. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast.

This combination of two photos taken on Thursday, July 3, 2014, shows an Iranian Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Tehran, Iran. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, July 7, 2014, shows the Hammami family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in the Bardo neighborhood near the Tunisian capital, Tunis. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, July 7, 2014, shows the Hammami family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in the Bardo neighborhood near the Tunisian capital, Tunis. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, June 30, 2014, shows Indian Muslims waiting to break their fast, bottom, and part of their meal, top, during the holy month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Monday, June 30, 2014, shows Indian Muslims waiting to break their fast, bottom, and part of their meal, top, during the holy month of Ramadan at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, shows a Muslim family posing for a photograph before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Tucker, Ga. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, shows a Muslim family posing for a photograph before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Tucker, Ga. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, top, and Thursday, July 3, 2014, bottom, shows a Yemeni family waiting to break their fast, top, and a meal during the holy month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, top, and Thursday, July 3, 2014, bottom, shows a Yemeni family waiting to break their fast, top, and a meal during the holy month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Sunday, July 6, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Nairobi, Kenya. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast. Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Sunday, July 6, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Nairobi, Kenya. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast. Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Sunday, July 6, 2014, shows an Iraqi family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Baghdad, Iraq. Many cultures also share in special culinary delights particular to the month of fasting. Across much of the Arab world, a juice made from sweet apricots is a staple of Ramadan iftars.

This combination of two photos taken on Sunday, July 6, 2014, shows an Iraqi family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Baghdad, Iraq. Many cultures also share in special culinary delights particular to the month of fasting. Across much of the Arab world, a juice made from sweet apricots is a staple of Ramadan iftars.

This combination of two photos taken on Friday, July 4, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Sydney, Australia. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Friday, July 4, 2014, shows a Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Sydney, Australia. For the millions of Muslims abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan, that first sip of water after a grueling fast is by far the most anticipated moment of the day.

This combination of two photos taken on Thursday, July 11, 2014, shows a Malaysian Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Thursday, July 11, 2014, shows a Malaysian Muslim family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast Iftar is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, shows Imam Siswanto, left, waiting to break his fast with his family, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, shows Imam Siswanto, left, waiting to break his fast with his family, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Jakarta, Indonesia. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Saturday, July 5, 2014, shows the Aazzab family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Casablanca, Morocco. Iftar, or the evening meal that breaks the fast is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Saturday, July 5, 2014, shows the Aazzab family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Casablanca, Morocco. Iftar, or the evening meal that breaks the fast is a social event as much as it is a gastronomical adventure. The celebratory meals give people reason to reconnect with friends and family, and gather around shared platters of food.

This combination of two photos taken on Saturday, July 5, 2014, shows a Muslim family saying prayers before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Kano, Nigeria. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Saturday, July 5, 2014, shows a Muslim family saying prayers before breaking their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan in Kano, Nigeria. Fasting is a physical and mental exercise meant to draw worshippers closer to God and increase empathy for the poor.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, shows a Sudanese family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast. For more than 1,400 years, many Muslims have been breaking fast in the same way the Prophet Muhammad did: with a handful of dates and a sip of water.

This combination of two photos taken on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, shows a Sudanese family waiting to break their fast, top, and their meal, bottom, during the holy month of Ramadan on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan. After a long day of fasting, the moment of pay-off finally comes in the form of “iftar”, the evening meal that breaks the fast. For more than 1,400 years, many Muslims have been breaking fast in the same way the Prophet Muhammad did: with a handful of dates and a sip of water.